Shaft-straightening machine



SHAFT STRAIGHTENTNG MACHTNE Filed May l2 1927' 5 Sheets-Sheet l seed M. H. DAMERELL 1,722,841 SHAFT STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed y 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma MQN W wk w ,3

July 30', 1929.

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Nw Nam Q 3 H W u July 3 1929- v M. H. DAMERELL SHAFT STRAIGHTENTNG i/IACHTNF? Filed May l2,-192v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July '30, 1929. M. H. DAMERELL SHAFT STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed May 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITE STATE MARK H. DAMERELL, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO WYMAN- GORDON COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- GHUSETTS.

SHAFT-STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

Application filed. May 12, 1927.

This invention relates to a machine for straightening forged crankshafts and other similar articles. In the machine shown in the drawings, the crankshaft is supported on centers on a sliding table and is movable longitudinally with the table to bring any selected portion of the shaft under a ram or striker by which a straightening blow may be delivered.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved devices for moving the table longitudinally and for moving the ram or striker vertically, by which improved devices the machine may be more conveniently operated and by the use of which the pressure of the ram may be easily and accurately controlled to suit varying conditions.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, with portions of the shaft-supporting heads omitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of certain parts of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of parts of the machine, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional front elevation, taken along the line 44 in Fig. 3 and showing the mechanism for moving the table longitudinally;

Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of certain parts, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the piston cylinder, looking in the direction of the ar row 7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of certain controlling mechanism for the oilgear pump;

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional front elevation of the valve for controlling the table feed;

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the valve mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow 12 in Fig. 10;

Serial No. 190,910.

Fig. 13 is a sectional end elevation of the valve mechanism, taken along the line 1313 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is apartial elevation of the piston valve sleeve;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the oil motor which actuates the sliding table, lookmg in the direction of the arrow 15 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is a rear elevation, partly in sectron, of the oil motor, looking in the direction of the arrow 16 in Figs. 3 and 15;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the rotor for the oil motor;

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of theupper section of the cam ring for the motor;

Fig. 19 is a similar view of the lower section;

Fig. 20 is a partial elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 20 in Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a side elevation of one of the rotor vanes; and

Fig. 22 is a plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow 22 in Fig. 21.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, my improved shaft straightening machine com prises a table slidable in suitable guideways on a base 31, and supporting heads 32' and 33 provided with centers 34 and 35 upon which a crankshaft S may be supported and rotated. The center 34 may befixed or free to rotate and the center 35 may be positively rotated. The centers 34 and 35 are preferably so mounted in the heads 32 and 33 that they are free to yield, both vertically and laterally, during the straightening opera tion. For a complete disclosure of the construction of the heads 32 and 33, reference is made to my prior application Serial No. 114,844, filed June 9, 1926.

A ram 38 is mounted toslide vertically in guide-ways in a bracket or frame member 39 (Figs. 5 and 6) which is firmly secured to the base 31. The ram 38 is provided with a striking member 40 which is detachably secured, so that a striker of suitable form may be selected for use with a particular crankshaft.

The ram 38 is of substantially U-shaped or goose-neck contour, with a lower end portion 41 offset below the supporting bracket 39. The portion 41 extends forward under the table 30 and is provided with a piston 42 having a head 43 and with suitable packinemiiers 44 and. 45 above and below said l part of the base 31, enclose the cylinder 50 head. A projection 46 on the head 43 limits upward movement of the piston by engagement with the under side of a heavy bed plate 47 forming a part of the base 31.

Ram actuating mechanism.

A cylinder 50 (Fig. is mounted on the under side of the bed plate 47 and is provided with a. cylinder head 51 having a stuffing box 52 for the piston 42. Side plates 54, forming and these side plates are firmly secured to the guide-Way bracket 39, so that the guide-ways and cylinder form substantially a unitary construction, with the cylinder always in exact parallel alignment with the guide-ways in the bracket 39.

By placing the cylinder 50 in the base of the machine, I greatly improve the appearance of the machine and also avoid the use of a lot of over-head mechanism for actuating the striker above the work. I alsoprovide a machine with a low center of gravity, as the heavy actuating mechanism is below the table and only the upper portion of the ram or strik' er 38 extends above the table.

The cylinder 50 is provided with upper and lower ports 56 and 57 by which oil or other fluid under pressure may be admitted above or below the piston head 44. This oil under pressure may be taken from any suitable source of supply but in the present machine 1 preferably connect the ports 56 and 57 with the outlet pipes of an oilgear pump 60 (Fig.

I 2) which may be driven by a belt or chain 61 from a motor 62. The oilgear pump is a commercial apparatus which it is not necessary to Pump con trol.

The pump is controlled in my improved machine by means of a handle 63 (Figs. 5 and fixed on a shaft 64 having an arm 65 projecting upwardly therefrom and secured thereto. A link 66 (Fig. 5) is pivoted to the upper end of the arm 65 and is provided with a block 67 fixed on a pilot rod 68. The rod 68 slides within a control member 69 having a hook 7O engaging the outer face of the block 67.

When the handle 63 is pulled forward in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 5, the block 67 will pull the pilot rod 68 outward a certain distance, which in turn will cause the control member 69 to move until said mem ber engages the block 67. Such movement of the member 69 will cause the pump 60 to become operative to an extent determined by the movement of the lever 63. Oil will then be pumped through the port 56 to the cylinder 50, depressing the piston 42 and bringing the. striker 40 down against the crankshaft which will be forced downward with the centers 34 and 35 until it engages rigid supports 7 0 (Fig. 1) against which straightening pressure may be exerted.

As soon as the handle 63 is released, a coil spring v71 (Fig. 6) onthe shaft 64 swings the. handle rearward in direction opposite to that of the arrow a in Fig. 5 and returns the pump 60 to neutral or inoperative condition.

As the ram approaches extreme lower posi tion, a cam 72 (Fig. 5) mounted on a lug 73 on the side of the ram 38 engages a roll 75 on the lower end of an arm 76 (Fig. 6) secured to one end of the shaft 64. l Vhen the cam 72 thus engages the roll 75, the handle 63 will be forced rearward, acting through the pilot rod to bring the pump to neutral position.

When the handle is released by the operator, the spring 71 throws the handle back far enough to reverse the operation of the pump 60, pumping oil into the port 57 and raising the piston 42 until a second cam plate 77 on the ram 38 engages the roll 75 and forces the lever 63 forward to neutral position. The parts thus com-e to rest with the ram in raised position.

I am thus able to apply carefully graduated pressure to the crankshaft to bend the same to any amount which is indicated as necessary for straightening the same, and as soon as the handle 63 is released, the ram automatically returns to its extreme upper position. If the lever 63 is moved to neutral position at an in termediate point in the travel of the piston, the parts will be maintained under pressure in such position.

Table fecal I will now describe the mechanism for feeding'the table 30 longitudinally and for controlling the rate and direction of feed. The table 30 (F ig. 4) is provided with a nut 80 adapted to travel'on a lead screw 81 supported in thrust bearings 82 mounted on the bed plate 47 of the machine frame. The lead screw 81 is provided with a sprocket 83 connected by sprocket chain 84 to a second sprocket 85 fixed on the end of an'oil motor shaft 86.

The shaft 86 is mounted in suitable hearings in a motor casing 87 and is provided with a rottor 88 rotatable within the casing. A cam ring comprising an upper portion 90 and a lower portion 91 is mounted in fixed position within the casing 87 and is held from rotation therein by pins 92.

The cam ring 91 has an inner cylindrical surface 93 concentric with the axis of the motor shaft 86. The cam ring 90 has a similar surface 94 also concentric but of substantially less diameter. At each end of the surface 94 there is provided a beveled cam portion 95 forming a sloping connecting surface between the two concentric surfaces 93 and 94.

Supply pipes 96 and 97 are connected with ets 102 to receive the ends of compression springs 103, the opposite ends of which are seated in pockets 104 in the rotor, extending inward from the recesses 100. A vent hole 106 is also provided in each vane to permit free sliding movement thereof without compression of air or liquid within the recesses 100.

The operation of the oil motor is clearly shown in Fig. 15. Assuming that oil under pressure is supplied to the pipe 96, this oil flows through the corresponding passage 98 and port 99 and enters the circumferential space between the rotor 88 and the cam surface 93. As the oil flows along this segmental passage it encounters one of the vanes 101 andexerts a rotating pressure thereon. The

rotor then begins to rotate, successively presenting additional vanes in the path of the oil under pressure and retaining the .oil between the vanesuntil the opposite port 99 is reached, at which point the oil escapes through the passage 98 to the pipe 97.

During the remaining portion of the revolution, the rotor 88 and the cam surface 94 are quite closely in contact, so that there is no substantial space left for the exertion of oil pressure. Consequently, the vanes in the lower part of the casing are pushed forward by the oil and the vanes in the upper part of the casing rotate freely until they again reach operative position.

The pump is completely reversible, as it is merely necessary to supply oil through the pipe 97 instead of the pipe 96 to cause the pump to rotate in the opposite direction. The speed of rotation is controlled entirely by the oil pressure or by the rate at which oil is allowed to enter the pump.. The oil under pressure provided for operating my improved pump may be derived from, any suitable source, such as a compression pipeline, the source of supply forming no part of my present invention.

Motor controlling mechanism.

WVhile the source of supply of oil under pressure is immaterial, I have provided special mechanism for conveniently controlling the flow of oil to the motor. For this purpose I have provided a handle 110 (Fig. 1) pivoted at 111 and connected by a link 112 to an arm 113 on the front end of a rock shaft 114.

The shaft 114 (Fig. 3) is suitably supported in bearings 115 in the base 31 and is pro vided at its rear end With an upwardly extending arm116 and a downwardly extend ing arm 117, both fixed to the shaft 114. The arm 117 is connected by a link 118 (Fig. 4) to an upright lever 119 mounted on a lug 120 projecting from the valve casing 121.

The lever 119 is normally held in upright mid-position by a positioning rod 122 pivoted to the lever at 123 and provided with flanged bushings 124 and 125 slidable in bearings 126 projecting upward from the valve casing 121. The bushings 124 and 125 are loose on the rod 122 and are provided with flanges at each end. The bushing 124 abuts a shoulder on the rod 122 and the bushing 125 abuts a nut on the end of the rod 122. A coil spring 127 enga es the inner flanges between the bearing pro ections 126. Whenever the lever 119 is displaced in either direction, as indicated in the broken lines in Fig. 10, one of the flanged bushings 124 or 125 is caused to slide through its bearing 126 and to compress the spring 127. At the same time, the other bushing remains unmoved in its projection 126, while the rod 122 slides therethrough.

As soon as the handle is released, the spring returns the positioning rod 122 to normal po sition, with the lever 119 inupright or neu tral position. i

A piston valve 130is connected by alink 131 to the lower endof the lever 119. The Valve 1.30 is provided with pistonportions 132, 133, 134 and 135 and with recessed portions 136, 137 and 138; A valve sleeve 140 is inserted in the casing 121 and. is provided with a series of annular recesses 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146 and 147, each extending around the outer surfaceofthesleeve 140 and con nected by a plurality of radial passages 148 to the interior of the sleeve. V

An inlet pipe 150 is connected to an axially extending passage 152 (Fig. 10) within the casing 121, which passage is connected by radial passages 153, 154, and 155 with the three middle recesses 143, 144 and of the valve sleeve 140. 1

An exhaust pipe 151 is connected with an axially extending passage 156 (Fig. 11) which in turn is connected by radialpassages 157 and 158 to the end recesses 141 and 147 in the valvesleeve 140. The supply pipes 96 and 97 for the oil motor'are connected to the remainingrecesses 142 and 146 of the valv sleeve 140.

When the'lever 119 is in mid-position, as 7 shown in Fig. 10, the pipes 96 and 97 are not connected to the supply or to the axhaust, and the motor remains stationary. If the lever 119 is moved by the handle 110 to carry the piston valve 130 to its left hand position, as viewed in Fig. 10, oil under pressure is admitted from the pipe through the passages 152 and to the sleeve recess 145 and thence through the valve recess 138 to the valve recess 146 which is connected with the motor supply pipe 96. At the same time,

the pipe 97 from the motor will be connected 1 readily apparent.

will continue to rotate in this direction until the lever 119 is released, when the comprcssion spring 127 will immediately move the handle to midposition and'stop rotation of the rot-or 88.

Movement of the lever 119 by the handle 110 in the opposite direction will cause similar rotation of the rotor 88 but in the reverse direction. I am thus able to rotate the lead screw 81 in either direction and for any desired amount of angular movement and I thus move the table 130 to the right or to the left and accurately position the same under the striker 40.

lVith this full description of the construction and operation of'my improved machine, it is believed that the method of using the same and the advantages thereof will be The entire machine is very conveniently controlled by the two handles 63 and 110. The handle 110 controls the oil motor by which the table 30 may be quickly and easily shifted longitudinally to any desired position, and the handle 68 controls the operation of the oilgear pump 60 by which the ram 38 is operated.

In case the operator neglects to stop the oil motor when the table 30 reaches its extreme limit of travel in either direction, I provide stop pins 160 (Fig. 3) adapted to engage the upwardly extending arm 161 of a lever 162 having a depending arm 163 connected to the arm 116 on the control shaft 114:. When the arm 161 is engaged by a pin 160 moving in either direction, the piston valve 130 is moved to neutral mid-position.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the detail herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I do claim is 1. A shaft straightening machine comprising abase, a table slidable thereon, centering heads on said table, a vertically movable striker, guide-ways for said striker fixed to said base at the rear of said table, and actuating means for said striker mounted below said table.

2. A shaft straightening machine comprising a base, a'table slidable thereon, centering heads on said table, a vertically movable striker, guide-ways for said striker fixed to said base at the rear of said table, said striker being substantially U-shaped and having a piston on its forwardly projecting lower end, and a cylinder for said piston mounted in said base below said table.

3. The combination in a shaft straightening machine as set forth in claim 2, in which said striker has a forwardly projecting upper end portion with a shaft-engaging element thereon and in which said engaging element is in substantial alignment with the axis of said piston and cylinder.

4. In a shaft straightening machine, a

striker having offset forwardly projecting upper and lower end portions anda connecting portion, a shaft-engaging element on said upper end portion, a guide-way in which said connecting portion is slidable and fluid actuated means to apply power to the lower end portion of said striker in substantial alignment with the path of movement of said shaft engaging element.

5. In a shaft straightening machine, a base, means to rotatably support a shaft thereon, a bracket secured to. the rear side of said base and having upright guide-ways therein, a striker slidable in said guide-ways on said upper end portion, a piston on said 7 lower end portion, a cylinder for said piston, and securing means for said cylinder bolted to said bracket and retaining said cylinderin permanent fixed alignment with said guidewa s.

7. A shaft straightening machine having a shaft-supporting table, vertical guide-ways fixed at the rear of said table, a striker slidable in said guideways and having forwardly projecting upper and lower end portions, said striker having a shaft-engaging element on its upper end portion, and actuating means for said striker fixed in'position below said table and operative on said forwardly proj ecting lower end portion to move said striker vertically in said guide-ways.

8. In a shaft straightening machine, a shaft-engaging striker having a limited travel, actuating means therefor including a cylinder and piston, one of said elements being directly secured to said striker, means to supplyfiuid under pressure to either end of said cylinder, a manually controlled lever for said fluid supply means, and automatic means to force said control lever to neutral mid-position at either limit of the path of travel of said striker.

9. In a shaft straightening machine, a shaft-engaging striker having a. limited travel, actuating means therefor including a.

cylinder and piston, one of said elements being directly secured to said striker, means to supply fluid under pressure to either end of said cylinder, a manually controlled lever for said fluid supply means, a spring effective to move said control lever when released to reverse position, and means to move said lever to neutral position at the upper limit of travel of said striker.

10. In a shaft straightening machine, a shaft-engaging striker having a limited travel, actuating means therefor including a cylinder and piston, one of said elements being directly secured to said striker, means to supply fluid under pressure to either end of said cylinder, a manually controlled lever for said fluid supply means, means to move said lever to neutral position at the lower limit of travel of said striker, a springefl'ective when said lever is released to move said lever to reverse position, and means to move said lever again to neutral position at the upper limit of travel.

11. In a shaft straightening machine, a shaft-engaging striker having a limited travel, fluid operated actuating means therefor including an oilgear pump, means to rotate said pump continuously, a control handle by which said pump may be caused to exert pressure to move said striker in either direction, and means directly controlled by said striker to render said pump inoperative at each end of the path of travel of said striker. Y

12. In a shaft straightening machine, a shaft-engaging striker having a limited travel, fluid operated actuating means therefor including an oilgear pump, and manual means to control said pump to move said striker at a desired speed in either direction, and to maintain said striker under pressure at an intermediate position thereof.

13. In a shaft straightening machine, a striker, a shaft-supporting table movable longitudinally beneath said striker, a lead screw to move said table, a reversible fluid motor connected to rotate said lead screw, said motor having a supply of fluid under pressure, and manual means effective to admit said fluid to rotate said motor in either direction and to any desired extent.

14. In a shaft straightening machine, a striker, a shaft-supporting table movable longitudinally beneath said striker, actuating mechanism for said table, a reversible fluid motor connected to drive said actuating mechanism, said motor having a supply of fluid under pressure, and a manually controled piston valve by which either side of said motor may be caused to receive fluid under pressure, the opposite side of said motor being simultaneously connected to the motor exhaust.

15. The combination in a shaft straightening machine as set forth in claim 14, in which said motor is held from rotation in either direction when said valve is in mid-position.

16. The combination in a shaft straightening machine as set forth in claim 14:, in which automatic means is provided to move said valve to neutral mid-position when released after displacement in either direction.

17. The combination in a shaft straightening machine as set forth in claim let, in which a lever is provided for said valve, a rod connected to said lever, a pair of flanged bushings on said rod, spaced bearings for said bushings, said bushings being 'slidable axially on said rod and in said bearings, abutments on said rod to limit sliding movement of said bushings thereon, and a compression spring mounted on said rod between said bushings and bearings, said spring being effective to move said lever to mid-position when released.

18. The combination in a shaft straightening machine as set forth in claim 14, in which a valve sleeve is provided for said valve, said sleeve having annular recesses connected respectively to the fluid supply and to the fluid exhaust and also to each inlet of the reversible motor.

19. The combination in a shaft straightening machine as set forth in claim 14, in which said table has limited travel and in which means is provided on said table effective to move said piston valve to neutral position at either limit of travel of said table.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MARK H. DAMERELL. 

